“Love is patient, love is kind. It doesn’t envy or boast and isn’t proud." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4
Coffee shops often swirl with
aromatic dreams. Here may be a slightly new
twist.
José entered an inner-city
beanery and strolled towards the counter; soaking in the scenery. Brick walls, rustic wooden tables, and slightly
deformed chairs. It smelled of cinnamon
and dark roast, steamed milk and flakey pastries; all arranged in crowded glass
display cases. Folk music crooned faintly
in the background.
Ivan, the barista, welcomed him with
an engaging smile. José ordered a cup of
Americano and paid for it at the counter. The aged hardwood floor creaked as he sauntered
towards a nearby table.
While still seated, two men came
in and ordered three cups. They retrieved
just two but paid for three and left. Again, the clerk placed a note on the wall
saying, “A Cup of Coffee.” The practice
seemed unique and peculiar. José
finished his java, paid the bill and left a bit confused.
A few days later, he visited the
shop again. While enjoying a cappuccino this
time, a poorly dressed man entered clearly unconcerned about his appearance. He appeared to be in his sixties; his face was
time chiseled and weather beaten. Life
and old age were getting the better of him.
He walked up to the counter and
politely ordered, “One cup from the wall.”
Ivan placed the coffee in front of him with all the customary respect
and dignity.
He swelled with pride while
savoring his brew and soon left without paying.
The clerk walked over to the
wall, removed one sticky note and tossed it in the trash. Now the matter was very clear. A new twist on paying it forward … but with
no expectation of reciprocity.
José’s eyes welled with tears. This man entered the place with dignity; not
having to ask for a free cup. He placed
an order for himself. It was served
without asking or knowing about who paid for it. Then he enjoyed his steaming cup of joe in a
warm, friendly atmosphere.
Such a beautiful example of love
and humanity.
Showing kindness without any
strings attached is kindness in its purest form. It can come in many ways – giving in secret,
giving of time, giving acceptance. What
if we made it a point at least once daily to make someone smile? What if we stopped thinking about them as
random acts and began thinking of them as intentional acts of kindness?
